Screen.



G. BAUER.

SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1912.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: I i I INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

G. BAUER.

SCREEN.

, v I APPLICATION FILED MAYQ, 1912. 1,139,465. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

. 2 SHEBTS'SHEET 2.

WITNESSE%S:/ 6 I INVENOR. L 4 1mw/dzk.

OFFICE.

- CONRAD-retina, or ri'rrsBUnoI-r, PENNSYLVANIA.

SCREEN.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed May 9, 1912. Serial No. 696,154.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, CONRAD BAUER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Screens, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to screens or shutters for windows, doors or other openings and it is particularly adaptable to embodiment in screens of the rolling type.

The primary object thereof is to provide a new and improved form of connecting device for mounting the slats in parallel relationship.

I aim to so form the connecting members as .to permit of separation or limited shifting of the slats one from another for the purpose of admitting light and air, and another object is to form these members so that the slats may be readily removed or replaced and the screen progressively built up.

I also aim to provide other details of construction as will be hereinafter more fully described.

I will now describe my invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertai'ns may understand and construct the same. I'do not, however, desire to limit myself to the specific construction shown as changes may be made therein without departing from the principle of my invention.

lVhile I have stated that my shutter or screen may be employed for a window, door or other opening, it will also be apparent that the construction may be used in forming a cover for a cabinet or other structure.

Figure l is a side elevational View showing partly in diagram a rolling screen formed of parallel superposed slats, and embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the screen showing the slats separated or vertically shifted from one another for the admission of light and air; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a plurality of lower slats closed with the remaining slats in open position; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the clip member employed for connecting the slats together; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the relative positions of the clips when the slats are separated or shifted to open position; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the slats closed; Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional view on the line 7'Z of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a similar view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of clip, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view through a slat and clip showing the manner of applying the modified clip to the slat.

The screen or shutter may be of the fixed or of the rolling type, and in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I indicate somewhat diagrammatically a roller 2 which may be mounted at the top of the window frame, casing or other structure (not shown). To this roller the screen is attached at its upper edge preferably in such manner that in the process of rolling the rear faces of the slats will assume a position facing the surface of the roller. The slats 3 may have the upper edges curved as at t, formed complementary with which curved edge is the lower concaved edge 5 which cooperates with the edge l to form a pivotal bearing point for the contiguous slats and thereby operate to keep all the slats in perfect alinement. Securedto each slat at intervals therealong are the clip members 6 which are preferably formed of sheet metal, such as brass, copper, or other substantially noncorrodible metal. This clip is formed with the up-standing tongue portion 7 which is received by the T-shaped pended so as to cause them to separate or fall away from one another.

The preferable manner of mounting the clip on the slat is to form the said clip with extensions 12 which curve around the top and bottom edges of the slat as shown in Fig. 7 and are provided with the end prongs or sharpened flanges 13 by which they are terminally secured to the slat. This form of mounting is not only neat imappearance but provides edge bearing points, for the slats so that one slat does not rest directly on the other, the nose portion 14 following the curvature of the slat while the lower portion 15 also follows the curvature of the slat so that an interlocking effect is. produced between the clips when the slats are in a closing position as shown in Fig. 7'.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I show a modified form of clip which is formed with the lower ex tensions l2 terminating abruptly but not so as to dispense with the bearing point 15, as brought out above. The clip may be secured to the slat by means of the U-shaped fastener or staple 16 passing through the slat from the front'to the rear and having its prong portions up-set or clenched as at 17 so as to serve as additional means in securing the clipto the slat. In Fig. 9 1 alsoshow the clip as having the inturned flange 18, the purpose of which is to form screen be of the adjustable type 2'. 6., the

slats being capable of being shifted to open and closed position one on the other as shown in Figs. '5, 6, 7 and 8, as well as in the diagrammatic Figs. 2 and 3, the slat may have' the cavity 19 so as to permit of reciprocation of the tongue portion 7 between the slat and the rear wall 20 of the clip, as distinguished from the construction shown in Fig. 9 wherein the tongue. 7 is prevented from passing upwardly by means of the flange portion 18.

It will be readily seen that by rolling or elevating the shutter or screen the slats will be progressively opened to an extent permissible by the travel of the member 7 within the recess 8. To mount the shutter directly on the roller 2 so as to enable rolling and unrolling of the screen, the topmost slat or several slats 21 may carry a strap or tape-like member 22 leading from the said roller. By lowering the screen with the bottom slat striking a rest or an abutment such as the sill of a Window frame, it will be apparent that the slats will progressively move together or close one on the other, as indicated in Fig. 3. It will be seen from this view that a portion of the shutter may be closed while another portion may remain open, the degree of opening being deter- 'mined by the number of slats caused to be suspended from one another on the upward pull or travel of the screen.

,An advantage of my invention will be found to reside in the facility by which the slats may be disconnected and replaced and by which the shutter may be progressively built up, the tongue and slot arrangement affording a simple form of connecting device which dispenses with the necessity of having a continuous connecting tape suspended from the roller or other support.

As stated above, changes may be made in the construction shown, which would not be departures from my invention. The manner of fastening the clip to the slat may be greatly varied and the shape of the clip as a whole may also be changed without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a screen, a plurality of slats having recesses formed in the rear faces thereof, and means for connecting the slats together in parallel relationship, comprising bandlike clips embracing the slats and having substantially T-shaped openings disposed opposite the recesses in the slat and having substantially T-shaped tongue portions, the tongue of one clip being pivotally supported by the body of the clip carried by the next adjacent slat, and the clips being so arranged as to enable independent removal and insertion of the slats in the screen without total disassembling of the screen.

2. In a screen, a plurality of slats having- ;cces'ses formed in their rear faces, and means for connecting the slats together in parallel relationship, comprising band-like clips so embracing the slats as to have a wall portion leading along the back of the screen, said wall having a T-shaped recess disposed opposite a recess in the slat and a T-shaped tongue .portion, the tongue of one clip being adapted to be inserted. into the recess of and bear upon the next adjacent clip, said clips having wall portions along the top.v and bottom of each slat, whereby the slats are prevented from rubbing one on the other in the process of moving them.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

CONRAD BAUER. Witnesses M. A. KELLER, MARY A. BARTH. 

